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Not Quite Cinderella: A Modern Day Romantic Retelling
She’s looking for a miracle. But will a fancy dress and glass slippers save her from her life of serving her demanding family?
Ella Gardner is stuck under the thumb of her controlling stepmother, working ungodly hours at the coffee shop her father opened before he died. She thinks it’s her inevitable future, until Prince Charming shows up pushing a mop bucket and sporting a head of hair to rival an eighties rock star.
Jaxon Philips inherited the ownership of the only five-star hotel in Colorado Springs from his father. As an ancient ship, anchored in the twentieth century, he intends to revive the hotel’s systems by going undercover before it sinks.
When Ella falls for Jaxon’s alter ego, Joe the custodian, he knows she’s not in it for his money. He invites her to the hotel’s biggest event of the season, intended to raise funds to keep the hotel afloat. He’s forced to reveal his true self to her, but it might be too late.
Ella Gardner is stuck under the thumb of her controlling stepmother, working ungodly hours at the coffee shop her father opened before he died. She thinks it’s her inevitable future, until Prince Charming shows up pushing a mop bucket and sporting a head of hair to rival an eighties rock star.
Jaxon Philips inherited the ownership of the only five-star hotel in Colorado Springs from his father. As an ancient ship, anchored in the twentieth century, he intends to revive the hotel’s systems by going undercover before it sinks.
When Ella falls for Jaxon’s alter ego, Joe the custodian, he knows she’s not in it for his money. He invites her to the hotel’s biggest event of the season, intended to raise funds to keep the hotel afloat. He’s forced to reveal his true self to her, but it might be too late.
- GenresRomance
228 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 27, 2022
147 people are currently reading
151 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
September 28, 2022
So good!!!
This was so freaking adorable!! It is a modern day Cinderella retelling, and I LOVED it!!
Jaxon and Ella are the kind of couple everyone wants to be a part of. But what Ella doesn’t know is that she is dating Jaxon, a multi-millionaire owner of the Regent, Colorado Springs only five-star hotel. Her coffee shop is attached to the hotel and one day she meets Joe (Jaxon in disguise) the janitor, when he helps her clean up her shop. The whole process of Ella finally getting the man of her dreams and her fairytale life is so endearing that I couldn’t put it down! It is a sweet, romantic fairytale romance.
If you enjoy contemporary romance, fairytale retellings, and sweet, romantic love stories, you will adore this book!!
This was so freaking adorable!! It is a modern day Cinderella retelling, and I LOVED it!!
Jaxon and Ella are the kind of couple everyone wants to be a part of. But what Ella doesn’t know is that she is dating Jaxon, a multi-millionaire owner of the Regent, Colorado Springs only five-star hotel. Her coffee shop is attached to the hotel and one day she meets Joe (Jaxon in disguise) the janitor, when he helps her clean up her shop. The whole process of Ella finally getting the man of her dreams and her fairytale life is so endearing that I couldn’t put it down! It is a sweet, romantic fairytale romance.
If you enjoy contemporary romance, fairytale retellings, and sweet, romantic love stories, you will adore this book!!
May 10, 2023
Classic fairytale with such a modern day twist. Fun and fresh. Very enjoyable story. I fell in love with this story and the characters!
June 16, 2023
Recommend
Jax and Ella's story is really good I know that you will like it to so go get this book and enjoy
Jax and Ella's story is really good I know that you will like it to so go get this book and enjoy
October 12, 2022
A sweet retelling of the Cinderella story, which was a little predictable, but very enjoyable to read.
December 15, 2023
Thank you to Heather Kindt for reaching out. I appreciate the gifted ecopy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily!
1. 𝑼𝑮𝑳𝒀 𝑺𝒕𝒆𝒑𝒔𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑺𝒕𝒆𝒑𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 - Jasmine and Felicia are revolting, disgusting people.
2. 𝑺𝒂𝒅 - Ella’s dad would’ve been so sad to see what happened after he passed away - how awful for her stepmother to turn on her so much.
3. 𝑲𝒏𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔 𝑰𝒏 𝑺𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑨𝒓𝒎𝒐𝒓 - Evelyn and Bruce swooped in and saved Ella from her miserable life. True fairy godparents!
4. 𝑨 𝑹𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑹𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝑫𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝑻𝒐 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑮𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒔 𝑺𝒍𝒊𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒓 - Kindt has done a great job with this retelling! I haven’t read many retellings but this one makes me want to pick up more!
5. 𝑻𝒘𝒐 𝑬𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 - Sweet or Spicy….I love that the reader had a choice between sweetness or a bit of spiciness!
1. 𝑼𝑮𝑳𝒀 𝑺𝒕𝒆𝒑𝒔𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑺𝒕𝒆𝒑𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 - Jasmine and Felicia are revolting, disgusting people.
2. 𝑺𝒂𝒅 - Ella’s dad would’ve been so sad to see what happened after he passed away - how awful for her stepmother to turn on her so much.
3. 𝑲𝒏𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔 𝑰𝒏 𝑺𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑨𝒓𝒎𝒐𝒓 - Evelyn and Bruce swooped in and saved Ella from her miserable life. True fairy godparents!
4. 𝑨 𝑹𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑹𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝑫𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝑻𝒐 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑮𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒔 𝑺𝒍𝒊𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒓 - Kindt has done a great job with this retelling! I haven’t read many retellings but this one makes me want to pick up more!
5. 𝑻𝒘𝒐 𝑬𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 - Sweet or Spicy….I love that the reader had a choice between sweetness or a bit of spiciness!
October 2, 2022
🇬🇧
What a delightful retelling of the Cinderella fairy tale! Contemporary, many landmarks from the original story, romantic but certainly not too sweet, and a nice layering in the storyline.
Jaxon and Ella both stole my heart. In lifestyle, there could not have been a greater contrast between the two, but they have much more similarities than you might expect at first glance.
I liked the alter ego Joe. Usually such a role is assigned to a woman. Very refreshing to see a man this time struggling with the two roles he has to fulfil.
The story isn't too long, which makes it a quick read. The writing style is pleasant and the humor makes it light.
I can wholeheartedly recommend this book if you like retellings, but not so much of the fantasy genre, in which you come across a lot of retellings.
If you like romantic stories but not so much smut. If you need a feel-good story that reads easily and smoothly, but which leaves you with the feeling that you have read a story with an underlying message.
Four stars from me for Not Quite Cinderella!
🇳🇱
Wat een heerlijke hervertelling van het sprookje van Assepoester! Hedendaags, veel herkenningspunten uit het oorspronkelijke verhaal, romantisch maar zeker niet te zoet, en een leuke gelaagdheid in de verhaallijn.
Jaxon en Ella hebben allebei mijn hart gestolen. In levensstijl had er geen groter contrast kunnen zijn tussen die twee, maar ze hebben veel meer overeenkomsten dan je op het eerste gezicht verwacht.
Het alterego Joe vond ik leuk bedacht. Meestal wordt zo’n rol aan een vrouw toebedeeld. Heel verfrissend om deze keer een man te zien worstelen met de twee rollen die hij heeft te vervullen.
Het verhaal is niet te lang, waardoor het lekker vlot leest. De schrijfstijl is prettig en de humor maakt het licht.
Ik kan je dit boek van harte aanbevelen als je van hervertellingen houdt, maar niet zo van het fantasy genre, waarin je veel hervertellingen tegen komt.
Als je van romantische verhalen houdt, maar niet zozeer van smut. Als je behoefte hebt aan feel good verhaal dat makkelijk en vlot leest, maar waar je wel echt het gevoel aan overhoudt dat je een verhaal met een achterliggende boodschap hebt gelezen.
Vier sterren van mij voor Not Quite Cinderella!
What a delightful retelling of the Cinderella fairy tale! Contemporary, many landmarks from the original story, romantic but certainly not too sweet, and a nice layering in the storyline.
Jaxon and Ella both stole my heart. In lifestyle, there could not have been a greater contrast between the two, but they have much more similarities than you might expect at first glance.
I liked the alter ego Joe. Usually such a role is assigned to a woman. Very refreshing to see a man this time struggling with the two roles he has to fulfil.
The story isn't too long, which makes it a quick read. The writing style is pleasant and the humor makes it light.
I can wholeheartedly recommend this book if you like retellings, but not so much of the fantasy genre, in which you come across a lot of retellings.
If you like romantic stories but not so much smut. If you need a feel-good story that reads easily and smoothly, but which leaves you with the feeling that you have read a story with an underlying message.
Four stars from me for Not Quite Cinderella!
🇳🇱
Wat een heerlijke hervertelling van het sprookje van Assepoester! Hedendaags, veel herkenningspunten uit het oorspronkelijke verhaal, romantisch maar zeker niet te zoet, en een leuke gelaagdheid in de verhaallijn.
Jaxon en Ella hebben allebei mijn hart gestolen. In levensstijl had er geen groter contrast kunnen zijn tussen die twee, maar ze hebben veel meer overeenkomsten dan je op het eerste gezicht verwacht.
Het alterego Joe vond ik leuk bedacht. Meestal wordt zo’n rol aan een vrouw toebedeeld. Heel verfrissend om deze keer een man te zien worstelen met de twee rollen die hij heeft te vervullen.
Het verhaal is niet te lang, waardoor het lekker vlot leest. De schrijfstijl is prettig en de humor maakt het licht.
Ik kan je dit boek van harte aanbevelen als je van hervertellingen houdt, maar niet zo van het fantasy genre, waarin je veel hervertellingen tegen komt.
Als je van romantische verhalen houdt, maar niet zozeer van smut. Als je behoefte hebt aan feel good verhaal dat makkelijk en vlot leest, maar waar je wel echt het gevoel aan overhoudt dat je een verhaal met een achterliggende boodschap hebt gelezen.
Vier sterren van mij voor Not Quite Cinderella!
October 14, 2022
💖
The ending left a lot to be desired. Ella let the Step Sisters and the Step Mom get off too easy. All she does in the end is tell the Step Mom she's going to buy out the coffee shop? After she slaved for them for years after her Dad died. Too many unanswered questions. Who really was the couple who helped Ella out? Did the hotel become more successful after the gala? Was the Step Mom stealing from Ella.? The synopsis of the book had me thinking the book would be good. Sadly I was mistaken.
The ending left a lot to be desired. Ella let the Step Sisters and the Step Mom get off too easy. All she does in the end is tell the Step Mom she's going to buy out the coffee shop? After she slaved for them for years after her Dad died. Too many unanswered questions. Who really was the couple who helped Ella out? Did the hotel become more successful after the gala? Was the Step Mom stealing from Ella.? The synopsis of the book had me thinking the book would be good. Sadly I was mistaken.
October 17, 2024
Cinderella- Modern Age
The book begins slow, but it's laying the groundwork for a better interpretation of the characters. After that, hang on to your seats. It's a story of ups, downs, feelings, and fences.
The main characters are clearly illustrated through the author's rendition of Cinderella, complete with a midnight deadline.
This is a great laugh out loud book featuring some great insight to the journey two people are willing to take in the name of love. Happy reading!
The book begins slow, but it's laying the groundwork for a better interpretation of the characters. After that, hang on to your seats. It's a story of ups, downs, feelings, and fences.
The main characters are clearly illustrated through the author's rendition of Cinderella, complete with a midnight deadline.
This is a great laugh out loud book featuring some great insight to the journey two people are willing to take in the name of love. Happy reading!
October 27, 2023
What happened?
Totally disappointed I was looking for closure I knew Ella and Jax were going to.be together. However I need closure on The step family They took Advantage of Ella for years And I needed some kind of punishment for them. 80% of the book Was about the step family what happened to the store, there was no closure the ending seemed forced
Totally disappointed I was looking for closure I knew Ella and Jax were going to.be together. However I need closure on The step family They took Advantage of Ella for years And I needed some kind of punishment for them. 80% of the book Was about the step family what happened to the store, there was no closure the ending seemed forced
February 7, 2025
I mean it's good story idea, but too predictable. Ella fargave Jaxton way too easily and even though his reason was good, it's not normal to lie abt ur fricking identity. The book in general was okay I guess, just seemed REALLY rushed. They dated a month and said they love each other and then everything AFTER A MONTH? like no.
February 10, 2023
Cute read but....
Cute that the fairytale is interwoven in story but the way Ella waffles back and forth with her family was hard to put up with. And what am I missing that the last chapter (31) is a repeat of a chapter in the beginning of the story?
Cute that the fairytale is interwoven in story but the way Ella waffles back and forth with her family was hard to put up with. And what am I missing that the last chapter (31) is a repeat of a chapter in the beginning of the story?
February 19, 2023
please send this review to the writer only
I like the story until the end. It repeats the beginning - I would have much rather know what happened to Ella’s so called family; or how meeting Jax’ s mother went.
I like the story until the end. It repeats the beginning - I would have much rather know what happened to Ella’s so called family; or how meeting Jax’ s mother went.
January 29, 2024
Fun read!
This book was a fun read! I really enjoyed the modern retelling of Cinderella. It was a sweet story full of villains you can loathe and heroes\heroines you can love. I'm excited to read more from this author.
This book was a fun read! I really enjoyed the modern retelling of Cinderella. It was a sweet story full of villains you can loathe and heroes\heroines you can love. I'm excited to read more from this author.
April 29, 2024
DNF and 43%. Look I tried, but this was terrible. Like a high school freshman wrote it. And what man refers to business colleagues as a “fabulous five”? I had to quit after that. Just a mess of a book.
September 4, 2025
The story was good but the writing was not the best. It really needed a proofread. Characters changed names. Harry styles was spelt wrong. It switched from 1st to 3rd person mid way in a chapter. Plot points where forgotten, a lost phone was suddenly being used and then was lost again.
October 21, 2023
Hopeful
Poorly written, all over the place, somewhat confusing. I really couldn't finish it. I wished for a good Cinderella story.
Poorly written, all over the place, somewhat confusing. I really couldn't finish it. I wished for a good Cinderella story.
February 14, 2024
This was a cute, modern day, Cinderella retelling. It reminded me a lot of the move A Cinderella Story with Hillary Duff. A fun, easy, lighthearted read!
July 6, 2024
but of a cliffhanger
The book was good but I wish she took more time with the ending. It kind of just dropped off and never really tells you what happened after they get engaged.
The book was good but I wish she took more time with the ending. It kind of just dropped off and never really tells you what happened after they get engaged.
November 6, 2024
This is a cute quick read for a HEA with a modern twist in classic tales. Unrealistic speed on romance, but the originals were too, weren’t they? I mean live at first sight is that quick.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews